Rocq Cafe

Macarons
Tried Peach Mango and Salted Caramel. Heavenly!
Jan 20, 2013
1. Savory Crêpe — veggie ⁴⁄₅
2. Panini Sandwich– veggie-​4/​5
3. Latte– ⁴⁄₅
4. Camomile tea hot — 3.5÷5
Lemon Basil-3.5/5
Red velvet– ⁴⁄₅

This is our go-​to breakfast spot when getting the car serviced nearby. I highly recommend the crab cakes benedict and the croque madame. You can’t go wrong with any of the macarons here either.
Outdoor seating is available if you want to bring your dog (s), and we always bring ours. I would say the only downside to sitting outside is that there’s not much of a view; you face a busy street and the noise can be annoying if there’s a lot of traffic.

This is a great place to get a fresh tasty bite while on your lunch break. Located in a strip mall/​business area next to round table and philly’s best. Quiche, sandwiches and crepes come with a side salad which totally makes the meal — the salad is a spring mix with tomatoes, cucumbers and balsamic. I have had their quiche lorraine and vegetable quiche, both so yummy.
Very tempted by the dessert window… $ 1.60 Macarons in all the typical flavors and some not so typical ones: blood orange, lavender, salted caramel, coconut, passion fruit, peach mango, chocolate currant… the list goes on.
Only a few tables for more than two people, so don’t bring a large group.

I go here on the weekends for the crab cake Benedict and end up taking home some macarons. The food is delicious, the owner Chef Rocq and his wife Deborah are both very nice. They bring a bowl of water out for my dog when I sit outside. It’s my favorite weekend breakfast place by far.
Their lunch menu is pretty good also. I recommend the pulled pork sandwich, but the tri-​tip seems to be a local favorite.

I’d say 3.5 is probably more correct. I felt weird giving it 3, but 4 seems too much.
I headed here for brunch on Saturday. They only do brunch on the weekends. It’s a rather small restaurant, only a few tables with a few seats. Not really meant for a large group.
I ordered the tri tip eggs benedict. Wow, these were quite good. I’m not a huge fan of the egg being completely runny and they must have read my mind because one of my eggs was definitely more poached than normal which was perfect for me.
They have macarons available for purchase. Quite a variety. I got a salted caramel macaron to go. Very good.
I hope I get a chance to come back, the menu isn’t huge, so I only saw maybe a few other items I would try. Dessert crepes are always a possibility.

nice little French café! the sandwich is yummy, fries were freshly handmade (you can tell), service was friendly and nice!
what adds on the value though is the macarons… you HAVE TO try at least a couple of them when you go… for me, i’d wanna go back for food just because i need to get some macarons! only thing is that i wish they have some prettier box/​container so it’d look nicer if i am giving them as a gift.
i’ve wanted to come here for a while, im glad that i finally made it!

What truly defines a great place when it comes to food? Is it the quality of food balanced with the price you pay for the meal? Or how about the question, am I thinking about trying this place again?
For me, I believe a great food venue answers «yes» to the question, WILL I be coming back? The ROCQ Café unfortunately does not answer yes to this question.
It’s not that the quality is bad, there are some elements that prevent my curiosity from coming back. Here is how I break it down:
1. The price to portion ratio (including quality) was a little off for me. I ordered the tri tip sandwich with the salad while my gf ordered the ham and brie panini with french fries. $ 11 before tax for the tri tip and $ 9 for the ham and brie. These are lunchtime prices with medium-​small sized sandwiches and the sides I was not too impressed with. QUALITY per sandwich was good but I don’t see myself coming back for seconds with those prices, and portions.
2. GOOD NOTE: The interior and the service was not bad at all. Some French Jazz can be heard in the background creating a warmer and more welcoming ambiance. Nice touch.
3. MACARONS: Tasty, yes. $ 1.60 per macaron, again, a little steep for me. SIZE — (You can put one in your hand, cup it with your fingers, and it’s gone.)
4. OVERALL: Good experience. Maybe it’s the culture that defines the portions, just like other cultures have MASSIVE portions. Again, this is MY personal opinion of ROCQ Café. I would typically give places like this a higher rating, but will I be coming back for more? Like skydiving, getting lost via gps, being hustled by an Irish wrestler, once is enough for me.

At Last Café
Anepalco’s
Mil Jugos
Café Hiro
And now Rocq Café
What do the above have in common? They are all the result of the downturn of the economy. Hows that? Incredible food inventively created by talented passionate chefs at unbelievably low prices.
I finally made it here and was bowled over by the super friendly efficient service, and of course the awesome food. I can’t remember the last time I saw Chicken Cordon Bleu on a menu, even though we were there for a 10:30 breakfast I placed my order. Waitress comes out a few minutes later to regretfully inform me they were out. She recommended the Crab Cake Benedict which was the special of the day. Lets do it.
After my first bite I was so glad that this was option B. Perfectly poached eggs, great hollandaise, and cakes chocked full of crab with very little filler. Great dish. Came with roasted tomatoes and cubed potatoes. What a fantastic breakfast. One of my dining mates went for the Tri Tip Benedict and must have loved it as it was gone before I could ask for a bite. P I G PIG! His wife ordered a prosciutto panini and reported it to be to her liking.
The service involves the whole team as Eddy Rocq greeted us from our first step inside, and his chef helped bring out some of the food and one of my Chards. Our waitress couldn’t have been more attentive, and even proudly proclaimed that she had made my crab cakes herself. All three had charming French accents and were all smiles.
Too bad this place is in The Dreaded South Orange County, as I can’t wait to return to try other dishes. This place is a keeper. If you live and or work in the area you need to be a regular here.

After reading a lot of great reviews about Rocq Café, my friends and I decided to meet up here for brunch and snacks. It has indoor/​outdoor seating, is small and quaint. I only ordered their latte and three macaroons: peanut butter, orange mango, and green tea. All three were quite delicious, but my favorite was the peanut butter. The chef who made the macaroons and everything else on the menu kept bumping my head with his elbow (accidentally, of course) as he served the other guests. He then offered me his macaroon of the day on the house — chocolate orange! It was a nice gesture and I loved the flavor. My friend ordered the Eggs Benedict with Canadian Bacon with a side of delicious tomatoes — so ridiculously good! I’ll definitely come here again.

Rocq Café is a surprisingly cute eatery in Lake Forest. They have a small menu, but everything on it sounded mouth-​watering. The service was also wonderful!
We were hoping to have brunch, but 12:30pm on Sunday was apparently too late. But after trying items from their lunch menu, I will definitely be back for brunch. I opted for their Quiche Lorraine with sides Crispy Potato and Cole Slaw, all for $ 7. The quiche was cooked perfectly! Soft and creamy texture, with a nice crunchy crust. I also loved the accompanying Crispy Potato, but the Cole Slaw had a little too much dressing for my liking.
The boyfriend ordered the Tri-​Tip Sandwich, also with 2 sides ($ 11). In my opinion, the taste reminded me of a Philly Cheesesteak Sandwich. Correction: A very GOOD philly cheesesteak sandwich.
We also couldn’t leave without trying their specialty: macaroons. We tried 2 flavors: Old Fashioned Praline — AMAZING, and Peanut Butter — imagine eating a tablespoon of peanut butter ;)
I will definitely be back, and am very curious about their once a month dinner menus (reservation only).

After seeing a mouthwatering picture of a rainbow of Macarons in the paper I immediately got into my car and sped all the way to Chef Eddy Rocq’s little piece of Paris.
Admittedly, the location is a little tough to find but rest assured that once you find it you’ll feel like you’re visiting an old friend… the décor has a certain je né sais quoi about it that will 150% make you want to do nothing but linger as you sip on your iced tea or saver you nespresso as you salivate over a Macaroon (or five).
I ordered the Tri-​tip Sandwich accompanied with Orzo Salad — for a mere $ 10.95, you definitely get your money’s worth. The Sandwich features mushrooms sautéed to satisfy, onions that will make your mouth cry from happiness, bell peppers that are bursting with flavor and a chipotle mayo that will leave you wanting more. To top it off, the Orzo Salad sits nicely on your plate and definitely helps balance out the sandwich that is bursting with flavor.
Now onto the Macaron… there really are no words for how good Chef Eddy’s Macarons are but it really is no surprise considering this once-​Celebrity-​Chef started studying in the heart of France at the Mederic Culinary School of Paris at a very young age. His technique is apparent and the made-​with-​love philosophy definitely rings true because all the Macarons are hand-​made.
I DEFINIELY will go back to this spot and feast on more of Chef Rocq’s amazing food and pastry.
Chapeau Chef!

Conscientious detail meets meticulous precision.
Rocq Café’s Chef Eddy Rocq seeks to remedy oral fixations and palliate misgivings you may have towards the city of Lake Forest or say, the French.
The Tri-​tip Sandwich prepared with sauteed mushrooms, onions, bell peppers and chipotle mayonnaise was served on a freshly baked bun. My buns were warm… sinfully delightful.
The sandwiches come with a choice of two sides. I enjoyed the ratatouille with eggplant, zucchini and tomatoes and the taboulet (sic) with cucumber, tomatoes, mint, balsamic vinegar and celery.
The macarons are prepared with coarsely ground almond flour, so anticipate texture within a cake-​like structure and the requisite shell. The variety of flavors is unparalleled.
To my pleasant surprise the coffee had crema and it tasted exceptional.
I owe the lovely recommendation and brunch to Kelley U.

Was drawn in with their cute décor. Ate the tri-​tip sandwich and ham and brie panini. Both were full of flavor. Each sandwich came with 2 sides. We had the shredded carrots, ratatouie and something that resembled a potato ball (sorry, can’t remember the name). Everthing was very fresh and quite filling. I could’nt even finish my sandwich.
Apparently they are know for their macarons but we didn’t try any. They are $ 1.50 for rounds and $ 1.60 for hearts I believe. That’s a pretty reasonable price for these French cookies and they looked really good with a variety of flavors.
I’m a fan of this place and will definately go back to try the rest of their menu. Oh, they also hold cooking classes and offer evening reserved dinners.

The owner studied in Paris from 14−19years old. He is SO friendly, SO nice, and really strives to have the BEST restaurant with EXCELLENT food quality, taste.
I overheard his chatting with a regular customer about the consistency of the food while the owner was gone. He asked very detailed questions and was addressing some concerns from other customers’ comments & reviews.
I took this as, the owner REALLY cares about the quality of his restaurant. He is asking customers for helpful feedback and he listens to it. He wants to keep his customers satisfied as well.
DEFINITELY support him and his business!!! His hard work is paying off because his macarons will now be sold at 3 WHOLE FOODS locations: Newport Beach, Jamboree, and Aliso Viejo!
Rocq is making its way to the stores & out to the public!
His food tastes great and for picky eaters like me who review about everything, I was pleased!
GOOD LUCK ROCQ!

So I just had the quiche. Best.quiche.ever. I hate eggs, onions, and Canadian bacon. And yet somehow chef Eddie makes it all delicious in this magical quiche.
Oh, and the goat cheese salad still rocks.
Awesome brunch.
Thank you Rocq.

Fantastic quiche, though I wish it were a lot bigger. The guy at the counter recommended the quiche lorraine with bacon and swiss cheese, and it was fantastic – the crust was fresh and the egg was not dry at all.
Pretty great quality for $ 7, and two sides included. I got carrots and ratatouille, but didn’t really care for either of them.
Next time I have to try the macarons!

So I’ve had Rocq Café bookmarked on my list since they were one of the vendors at the big Unilocal party in April. I only got to try a macaron at the party, but from the taste of it, I knew I wanted to try more. Since I’ve started work in Irvine, I found out that this place is only a few miles away!
It’s located in a somewhat industrial area on Lake Forest, past the main shopping center there, but before Rockfield, in the same complex as the Round Table Pizza. The shop itself is small, but it’s very roomy and has a very cute décor. There’s several small tables out in front of the store as well, which I always sit at. They have their menu written on a chalkboard behind the counter and there’s a very large display of desserts and other foods.
The menu always has foods that sound amazingly delicious. i love the paninis here, which come with two sides. I always get the Smoked Salmon one, which comes with tomato, alphalfa sprouts, cream cheese, and dill spread. The first time I was there and ordered this, I guess they ran out of ingredients, but Chef Rocq came out and apologized and explained to me that he customized it with other ingredients. I didn’t mind and it still tasted awesome.
The macarons — love them! There’s tons of different flavors. The heart shaped ones are so cute! For a normal one, it’s $ 1.60, but for a heart shaped one, it’s $ 1.70. The salted caramel one is definitely a fav of mine.
The service here is amazing. Chef Rocq’s wife I think is an absolute sweetheart. Even when I sit outside, someone will come out and check to see if I’m doing okay.
I definitely recommend trying out this place — if not for lunch or breakfast, for the macarons or other delicious desserts!

3.5 stars! The chicken panini isn’t half bad, but I prefer Paninoteca Maggio in Santa Ana more than Rocq Café.
This café is located in what seems to be a business complex, next to a thai place and round table pizza parlor. Small store with décor that I can’t really place with anything. The menu is simple with paninis, coffee, etc. and a few desserts.
My bf and I got the chicken
looks like a round smashed ball that you can fit into your hands. Not bad tasting at all. But it was a bit heavy, and what I mean by heavy is that whatever sauce they used tasted of heavy mayo. The whole thing reminded me of pizza for some reason… tasted like pizza hut hahaha. There wasn’t any distinct flavors, no play of: salty, sweet, or sour.
Comes with two sides: Out of say 4 choices we got the carrot salad and couscous (the food so nice they named it twice) thing. Both where nothing to write home about.
Price: price wise this place is over price. $ 9 bucks for such a small sandwich seems like highway robbery .
Overall
— tasty food, but I doubt I come here after experiencing Paninoteca Maggio
— worth a try
— over price

Nice & cute décor inside they made it feel like you’re in a French garden ;) +1
They really need to turn on the AC in here because it can get pretty hot & stuffy in here =(-1
Chocolate Croissant was way too buttery & it needs to be more flaky & crispy 1 pts =(
Salad was much too oniony =(2 pts
Eggplant Pasta roll very yummy 8.9 pts +1
Mint chocolate macaroons so very yummy 9 pts
Passion fruit macaroons so yummy 8.5 pts
Lavender macaroons yummy 8 pts
Currant Macaroons so yummy 8.5 pts
Quiche very good but definitely needs to be MUCH MUCH bigger, right now it’s just a mini appetizer size ;)
The macrons here are very yummy. +1 =)
I just wish that they were a bit bigger & they NEED to make MORE please, they keep selling out! =(
The Napoleon: so yummy scrumptious perfect tasting 9 pts +1
I am definitely coming back to try their other macrons that they had ran out of this time =)
Thank you Rocq Café for bringing your macrons & quiches to the Unilocal event! =) All Unilocalers really appreciate it. =) +1
Thanks so much for not bailing on us @Yelp event unlike all those bad naughty Food Trucks did, shame SHAME on THEM!

I’m with Trina D…3.5 stars. Rocq Café is new so they still have some kinks to work out.
The food, overall, was decent. It’s nothing to go out of your way for but it is a nice lunch place.
The service was very slow when Trina and I went. It was obvious they were 1 staff member short. Unfortunately, some other patrons weren’t totally pleased with the service and waiting either. For me, I was just ok about it because I was hungry. And the staff was apologetic and nice. I wanted to give the food a chance and speak for itself, too.
I ordered the ham and cheese croissant. The croissant was soggy. Perhaps it was on the plate too long before hitting our table. I don’t know. But the cheese and generous portion of ham was good. Not too salty which is nice. I finished all my food which is a good sign. I just wish the croissant was treated with more care.
The cucumber side salad and orzo pasta salad was decent. I wish it was a tad colder but the flavors were good. The cucumber salad was a bit tangy and fresh. The orzo was cooked perfectly and blended well with the herbs/​sauce. I would like to try the mung bean salad next time — sounds interesting… if I go again.
The pistachio parfait was good. It was layered so that there was chocolate cake and pistachio cream alternating for about 3 layers. A good size to share between two people. The red velvet macaron was good too. Came in the cutest heart shape! Unique for macarons! The red velvet cake is quite the departure from your typical almond flour Parisian macaron but it was tasty and a nice treat. I feel that Rocq Café shines in their desserts and sides a little more than their main food menu.
The place is a bit empty in terms of décor but like I said, they just opened. Hopefully they pick up their game quickly and gain patrons instead of losing any.
All the best to Rocq Café — I hope you guys do well!